ID this German unit – Vercors, France 1944

[Manuferey]

I have noticed this « Sterbebild » on ebay.de of a German killed during the fighting against the French Resistance (aka « Terroristen » for the Nazis) bei Grenoble on June 15, 1944. The date matches the first German attack against the French Maquis’ uprising in the Vercors mountain range just above Grenoble :

“On 15 June [1944], a first attack by the Germans was blocked in Saint-Nizier.
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/fr%5Eresm.html#ver
(St-Nizier is on the slopes of the Vercours mountain range)

The soldier was supposed to have belonged to a Pioneer-Regiment. However, the biggest unit that was stationed in the area was the 157.Reserve-Division and such a division would not include a full Pioneer-Regiment.

Does someone recognize the insignia on the cap? It looks like a skull. So could it be the insignia of the I./SS-Polizei-Regiment 19 which was also in the Grenoble area and participated in the bloody repression of the French uprising?



Emmanuel

[Marcus]

It is the symbol of the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD), the national labour service, so the photo is apparently taken while he served there prior to his army days.



/Marcus

[Manuferey]

Thank you Marcus.

So it appears that members of the RAD were engaged in the fight against the French Resistance.

Emmanuel

[Marcus]

So it appears that members of the RAD were engaged in the fight against the French Resistance.

Or as I said the photo was taken while he was in RAD, that is not the same as he was in the RAD at the time of his death.

/Marcus

[Manuferey]

It makes sense ! Thanks Marcus.

Emmanuel

[genstab]

In my reading on the subject I have only been able to identify 157. Reserve Div and part of 9. Panzer Div to be involved at Vercours. Mehner in "Die Geheimen Tagesberichte" on 22.7.44 says part of 157. div, one battalion 9. Panzer, 3 Ostbattallionen, parts of Security Regt 200, Rgt. 19, 200 Feldgendarmerie and two Fliegerstaffeln were involved in the big push to clear the Maquis that began on 19 July. Some 10,000 men were involved according to the Oxford Companion to World War II- the sharp end infantry strength of two divisions, but probably not as well coordinated due to the diverse makeup. Hope this is of interest.

If anyone knows what superior command was conducting the operatiuon I'd like to find out.

Best regards.
Genstab

[JC]

FWIW, At this point in the war there were no Pioneer Regimenter, only Bataillonen and Abteilungen, so I suspect that the regiment notation is in error. There were railroad (eisenbahn) pioneer regimenter, but I doubt that was the case here. Also, anti-partisan operations are not the usual activity for pioneers. The RAD connection makes the man's ID as a pioneer compelling so perhaps he was engaged in some independent construction work in the area at the time of his death (just a guess).

JC

[jopaerya]

Hello Emmanuel

Here the troops that were involved in Operation Vercors , only some Pi.Kpn from the 157 R.D.

Map = BaMa Freiburg

Regards Jos

[genstab]

thank you very much. So it looks like it was under command of 157. Reserve Div.

Best regards,
Genstab

[Manuferey]

Thank you all.

There were also some French Vichy troops ("Milice" in particular) that fought alongside the Germans against the Maquis.

I visited the Vercors area a long time ago, including several of the historical places of July 1944. Quite dramatic and unforgettable.

Unknown for several decades after the war was the presence of 15 American OSS operatives (Commando Justine) parachuted to help the Maquisards on June 29,1944.

See here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuP008oh_F0

and here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF4BfxZ_ ... re=related

The USAAF also dropped supplies to the Maquis of Vercors (Operation "Cadillac"). See some supply missions here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnu1AVcK ... re=related

Emmanuel

[Simon V.]

Peter Lieb in Konventioneller Krieg oder NS-Weltaunschauungskrieg? gives an overview of the German forces involved in Unternehmen 'Vercors'

4 Stossgruppen
Gruppe Zabel: II./Pz.Gren.Rgt.10 (verst) + Ost.Btl.
Gruppe Schäfer: 2 Kp Fs.Jg.Btl. "Jungwirth" + 1 Kp Ost.Btl.
Gruppe Seeger: Stab Res.Art.Rgt.7, Res.Geb.Jg.Btl.99, Res.Geb.Jg.Btl.100, Res.Art.Btl.7, 1 Bttr Res.Geb.Art.Abt.79, 1 Kp Res.Pi.Btl.7
Gruppe Schwehr: Stab Res.Geb.Jg.Rgt.1, Res.Geb.Jg.Btl. I/98 and II/98, 1 Battr Res.Geb.Art.Abt.79

Absperrkräfte:
Teile Sich.Rgt.200, Freiw.St.Rgt.3, I./SS-Polizei-Regt.19, Res.Gren.Btl.179, Res.Pi.Btl.7, Res.Gren.Btl.217, Res.Pz.Jg.Kp.7 and Res.Pi.Kp.7

Cheers
Simon